25. December 20

Meditations no. 25 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Advent reminds us of man’s centuries-old yearning for Redemption.

Key of David, opening the gates of God’s eternal kingdom: free the prisoners of darkness!

From earliest times man has looked to heaven as to his lost home. His heart was made for light, for joy and happiness; yet he remained in sadness and shadows, oppressed by the weight of the sin that brought about his downfall. God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living. For he created all things that they might exist, and the creatures of the world are wholesome, and there is no destructive poison in them … But ungodly men by their words and deeds summoned death; considering death a friend, they pined away?

Whenever man, overcome by his passions, freely and willingly severs his union with God, he once again brings about this sorry process of corruption in himself. For each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire, says the Apostle St James. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death? But it is still possible for the sinner to feel the weight of his guilt and seek the freedom and salvation he has failed to find in creatures. He can rebel against the slavery of sin, availing himself of the grace Jesus won for us.

I accept no slavery other than that of God’s Love, our Father said. As I have told you on other occasions, religion is the greatest rebellion of men, who refuse to live like animals, who are dissatisfied and restless until they come to know their Creator and are on intimate terms with him. I want you to be rebels, free and unfettered, because I want you - it is Christ who wants us! - to be children of God. Slavery or divine sonship, this is the choice we face. Children of God or slaves to pride, to sensuality, to the fretful selfishness which seems to afflict so many souls.

O Key of David! By God’s grace we know the splendour and security and warmth of the sun of faith. We have the good fortune to know where to find deliverance and pardon for our own sins and the sins of all people: Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offence.

Love of God marks out the way of truth, justice and goodness. When we make up our minds to tell our Lord, “I put my freedom in your hands,” we find ourselves loosed from the many chains that were binding us to insignificant things, ridiculous cares or petty ambitions. Then our freedom, which is a treasure beyond price, a wonderful pearl that it would be a tragedy to cast before swine, will be used by us entirely to learn how to do good.

The Church calls us to hope again: the Lord is coming.

Amid the lamentations of the Chosen People, the prophets gave voice to the hope of a future Messiah. So now, all across the world the Church intones a song of hope: Adventus Domini! Have confidence, the Lord is coming, he is at the door. We are encouraged to live these days in hope and trust. As our Father tells us, quoting the words of St John: God is love. The abyss of malice opened by sin has been bridged by his infinite charity. God does not abandon men. His plans foresaw that the sacrifices of the old Law would not be sufficient to repair our faults and re-establish lost unity. A man who was also God would have to offer himself up. To help us grasp in some measure this unfathomable mystery, we can imagine the Blessed Trinity taking counsel together in their uninterrupted intimate relationship of infinite love. And thanks to that eternal decision, the only-begotten Son of God the Father takes on our human condition and bears the burden of our wretchedness and sorrows, ending up sewn with nails to a piece of wood.

The hour of God’s mercy has come again. Jesus Christ, Key of David and royal Power of Israel, controlling at his will the gate of heaven, has come to meet us. He stretches forth his hand to us, and with infinite love he promises forgiveness of all the sins and infidelities of mankind, and access to heaven.

As each day brings us nearer to Bethlehem, we should remain alert, begging God to have pity on us, to come and save us. My children, our Father urges us, let us tell our Lord: Come, Lord, my Jesus, come to my heart, to the hearts of all Christians. Come especially to the hearts of those who once thought of giving themselves to you but then abandoned the idea, not through bad will, but through weakness. Let us pray for every person of every race and tongue and religion; for those with only a vague idea of religion; and for those who do not know the faith. And our zeal for souls, a self-evident proof that we love Jesus, will ensure that he comes.

Working together so that doors may open everywhere to Christ.

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak.

To spread his unbounded love to every man and woman, our Lord founded his Church and entrusted her with the mission of announcing his mercy to the world. All Christians should take part in this enterprise, especially those called by divine vocation. As our Father reminds us, God our Lord wants you and me to be holy, so that we may sanctify others. Look at yourself, look at our God, and then look at the world. The world awaits Christ, often without knowing it. People search hungrily for happiness in fame, success, power, or money… only to end up disillusioned, when they discover that what they sought so energetically does not in fact bring them true happiness. Only the possession of God can fully satisfy the longings of the human heart. The world still awaits Christ; most people still do not know him.

We Christians have a supernatural responsibility to cooperate with God’s power. For this is his all-merciful plan. He wants us to strive to re-establish the order that has been disrupted. This means that the temporal structures of all nations have to recover their natural function as instruments for the progress of mankind; and also their supernatural function as a means of reaching God, an instrument of the Redemption. Venit enim Filius hominis salvare quod perierat; Jesus came to save all men, and we must follow in his footsteps. As he is the way, the truth and the life, he wants to show the way, the truth and the life to all people of all times.

We should contemplate the world with supernatural outlook, going beyond superficial appearances, seeing it as Christ did. Then we will be filled with longings to spread the work of Redemption, and to work so that, all over the world, doors that are still shut to grace may be opened wide to let Christ in.

Holy Mary, Ianua Coeli, Gate of Heaven, intercede for us, so we may work effectively as apostles, for the world, and in the very heart of the world!